Spreadable stopper.



T. C. SPELLING. SPREADABLE STOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. I911.

' 1,283,347.. Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

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THOMAS (J. SPELLING, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 2a, 1918.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,779.

To all whom, it mag concern i Be it known that I, THOMAS C. SPELLING,citizen of the United States, and resident of city of New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certam new anduseful Improvements in Spreadable Stoppers, ofwhich the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to stoppers for liquid containers, and has for apurpose the provision of a' stopper carrying a puller and other usefuladjuncts thecombination and con ction of which will not only seal andlock the bottle when in place and prevent subsequent fraudulent use ofit, by substitution or otherwise, but also meet the objection tocomposition stoppers that they contact with liquids, causing them toswell and automatically come out. No stopper as thus equipped canautomatically come out, and any part that liquid can reach may swellever so much without prejudicial effect.

At the outset, it should be stated, though it is almost self-evident,that the insertion of the device in a stopper after the latter has beenformed is not contemplated. The

stopper will be formed around the device, in the making of the stopper.The theory of the invention is that a bottle formed with an opening,however narrow, in itsshell cannot be reused without a stopper-uniquelyformed to close it. I provide such a bottle, and then provide a stopperof novel form and function with which the opening can be sealed untilthe time arrives for using the contents,

and for then opening it by the simple act of withdrawing the stopper,whereby the stopper is rendered useless for the same purose.

p To facilitate a full and complete understanding of the invention, Iwill illustrate the preferred embodiment of the same, and

the details, arrangement and combination of parts will be learned uponreading the specific description hereinafter set forth in connectionwith the accompanying drawings,

forming a part hereof, wherein said preperspective view of the stemmember and its parts. Fig. 4. is a Perspeetiveview of the spread membersand of an adjacent portion of the neck exhibiting the action of theparts upon application of initial pull force. Fig. 5 is a top view ofthe cap member.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein' like referencefigures represent corresponding parts in the several views, 1 representsa stopper of conventional form, made of any suitable material, whichmate rial, for present purposes, must be elastic or yieldable underpressure; 2 represents the neck of a bottle of suitable form, 3 the capmember, l the stem, and 5 the jaws.

The stem, which has vertical movement in the stopper, has the ring orshield 6, the shoulder 7, the spreader 8, and the bifurcated crossbar 9,divided to form two branches or prongs, 10 and 11. The aws 12, areidentical in form and function, and have the shallow smooth trenches,made in the inner sides, 13, the obtuse angles 14, the interiorshoulders 15, the exterior shoulders 16, and the rounded shoulders 17.The bottle neck has the openings 18, in the curved portion 19, and therim 20. The cap has the two sections 21, the overlap appearing along thelines 22, the apex or roof 23, wherein the sections are firmly united toeach other but loosely'hold said stem, the aperture 24, in the apex, thecurves 25, and the shelves 526 and 27. The cap surrounds the top of thestopper and has rotary movement around the stem and rim.

The substance of the stopper adjacent to and outside the roundedshoulders, in place, constitutes a relatively thin partition between thelatter aud the openings in the neck of the bottle. The openings areelliptical and small, the area of each lying in small part, within reachof any stopper not equipped as here shown, the principal areas,suflicie'nt in extent to cause a leakage of any liquid in the bottle ifleft open, lying beyondpossibility of being covered, for sea'lingpurposes, by anormal stopper vertically related. The' erossbarisbifurcated to form the prongs 10 and 11 from a point near the stern ontwo sides, the prongs extending therefrom horizontally, prong 10 beinglonger than prong 11, the shorter above the longer. The crossbar mayrest on top of the stopper, or between it and the apex or roof, previousto the application of preliminary pull force. The cap is designed toextend sufficiently above the stopper to allow the movements of theparts of the handle hereinafter described. The shoulder of the stem isabove the apex. T he two sections of the cap are left with edgesoverlapping but dis shelves, are mere shoulders of the cap resting. onthe shell of the neck of the bottle, at itsmouth. The term curvesdesignates the gripping extensions having resilient frictionalengagement under and on the rim.

After preliminary emplacement, as seen in Fig. 1, force is applied tothe stem at the ring, and the force and resulting movement are continueduntil the short prongs emerge above the apex and the long prongs contactwith its under surface. The distance traveled by the stem in thistransposition measures that traveled by the spreader to its secondarypoints of contact in the trenches at the obtuse angles, 14:. The effectof such up ward movement of the spreader is the outward propulsion ofthe rounded shoulders ofthe jaws against the adjacent relatively thinwall of the stopper and extrusion of the latter into the openings, 18,in the shell of the bottle. The forces of rebound would cause the lowerportions of the jaws to resume their original positions and relations,and the portions of the stoppers so extruded to resume their originalpositions and relations in the absence of a preventive. Such preventiveis provided by revolvingthe cap around the stem and rim until, upon removal of the pull force at the ring, the short prongs, 11, contact withand rest upon and across the upper surface of the apex. All the partsretain thesepositions and relations until the time arrives forextracting the stopper. Then after releasing the cap from its resilientgrip on the rim, force is again applicdto the stem at'the ring. Thefirst result is that the spreader, 8, is moved upwardly and its cornersare moved to anew point of contact under and against said interiorshoulders, 15. The pointof pressure being thus shifted, the roundedshoulders and adjacent portions of the jaws rebound downwardly, inwardlyand toward each other, restoring the exterior of the stopper so that itbecomes normal and vertical. If this result he not fully consummatedbythis movement, it results from a continuance of the pull force, whichspreads apart the upper portions, compacts upper and adjacent stoppersubstance, causes the exterior shoulders, 16, to deeply indent thestopper substance, and moves the stopper upi wardly.

If theactions of the various parts he not already clear, I will makethem clear by a few additional words. Uponthe application of saidpreliminary force to effect in termedia'te emplacement, the stem movesupwardly, and its adjunct, the spreader,.per-

exterior of the latter into said openings in the neck of the bottleshell, whereupon the sharp edges surrounding theopenings indent thesubstance of the stopper, producing thorough-closure, as seen at 28.

The puller cannot be used to perform the same oilice again, in.connection with any bottle, other than one of the same construction. Notonly will thef aws have col lapsed and displacement of important partshave occurred, but the substance of the stopper will-have been torn andmutilated internally at and near 29-. The whole area of the opening onthe curve of the bottle neck is closed by the action of the parts, asabove shown, and without the use of this device, or of some otherequally effective in connection therewith, the bottle is thereafterpractically unusable, because no ordinary,

stem could be temporarily bound together and held in place with gummedpaper, elastic bands, or with similar materials, or with felt or lintfor packingbetween lower ends, none of which it would ever be necessaryto remove from the interior of the stopper.

During the process of moulding or other-- wise forming the stopper, thestem, minus the cap, would be mechanically held by impingement of thering. The loosely fitting correlated pins 30 and holes 31 will preservelateral alinement of the jaws. The presence of light packing isindicated by lVhile I have herein set forth special embodiments oftheinvention, it is with the realization,as will appear to personsskilled in the art to which it appertains, that it is capable ofembodiment in other forms and devices, as may be in accordance with theclaims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A bottle closure comprising a bottle having an elliptical opening oneach of two opposite sides, extending from a point a little above, to apoint short space below, the junction of neck and body, said bottleprovided with a stopper therein of conventional form'composed ofyieldable and flexiblemfateriahand means within and on the stopper'foriextracting it and for sealing the closure comprising a bottlehaving an elliptlcal opening on each of two 'oppositesides, extendingfrom a point a top for'manipulating it, an inverted triangular formationon its lower end for spreading apart, laterally and upwardly,complemental round shouldered jaws, one placed on each side of it, inits upward movement, upon the application of pull force to the stem,said rounded shoulders being adapted to press outwardly and upwardlyadjacent portions of the stopper substance enveloping 20 them andimpacting said portions into said elliptical openings, substantially asdescribed.

3. A bottle closure comprising a bottle having an elliptical opening oneach of two opposite sides, extending from a point a little above, to apoint a short space below, the junction of neck and body, said bottleprovided with a stopper therein of conventional form and composed ofyieldable and flexible material for extracting it, a registering capmember, and means within and on the stopper for sealing the sideopenings by distending small areas of it outwardly and impacting themWithin said openings; said cap member formed with a slotted upperportion adapted to regulate and limit the vertical movement of a stem inthe stopper used in connection therewith, the stem carrying within thecap a crossbar bifurcated to form two prongs of unequal length, theshorter above the longer, the shorter passable through and the longerimpassable through the slotbecause of its increased length, the shorterdesigned and adapted to rest across the slot and on the cap and supportthe stem, the longer designed and adapted to rest under the upper shellof the cap and in contact with it; said cap also having rotary movementon and about a rim formed on the neck of the bottle and, by combinationof such rotary movement and eoaction of the prongs, measuring, limitingand registering the vertical movement of the stem in the performance ofits functions, substantially as described.

4. A bottle closure comprising a bottle having an elliptical opening oneach of two opposite sides, extending from a point a little above, to apoint a short space below, the junction of neck and body, said bottleprovided with a stopper therein of conventional form composed ofyieldable and flexible material for extracting it, and means within andon the stopper for sealing the openings by distending small areas of itoutwardly and impacting them within said openings, said distending meansconsisting of a stem having a ring at the top for manipulating it, aninverted triangular formation on its lower end, adapted, in its upwardmovement, to spread apart and outwardly a round shouldered jaw placed oneach side of it, upon the application of pull force to the stem, saidrounded shoulders, as a result of the upward movement pressing outwardlyand upwardly adjacent portions of the stopper substanceenveloping themand impacting said portions into the side openings, said jaws being inall respects complemental, each having exterior relatively sharp edgedshoulders above the rounded shoulders, adapted to engage, indent andcompact against the interior of the neck, the substance of the stopper,a trench extending upwardly from end to end, to guide the verticalmovement of said triangular formation, each having also correspondingtransverse reeesses in the trenches fordividing the outward pressure onthe jaws into degrees intensity and extent, at" separate stages ofupward movement of the inverted triangular formation, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a bottle closure, the combination of a bottle having an ellipticalopening on each of two opposite sides, extending from a point a littleabove, to a point a short space below, the junction of the neck andbody, with a stopper adapted to be fitted into the mouth and neck of thebottle, the stopper of conventional form and composed of yield able andflexible material; said stopper carrying pull means and in connectionand for coasting therewith a member adapted to seal the side openings byspreading and distending the substance of the stopper on two oppositesides, and press and impact it laterally and upwardly into the openings;said spreading and dis-tending member con sisting of a stem having aring at the top for manipulatingit, an inverted triangular formation onits lower end adapted, in its upward movement, to spread apart andoutwardly a round shouldered jaw placed on each side of it, upon theapplication of pull force to the stem, said rounded shoulders, as aresult of the upward movement pressing outwardly and upwardly adjacentportions of the stopper substance enveloping them and impacting saidportions into the openings, said jaws being in all respectscomplemental, each having exterior relatively sharp edged shouldersabove the rounded shoulders, adapted to engage, indent and compact,against the interior of the neck, the sub stance of the stopper, atrench extending upwardly from end to end, to guide the verticalmovement of said triangular formation, each having also correspondingtransverse recesses in the trenches for dividing the outward pressure onthe jaws'into degrees of intensity and extent, at separate stages ofupward movement of the inverted triangular formation, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a bottle closure, the combination of a bottle having an ellipticalopening on each of two opposite sides, extending from a point a littleabove to a point a short space below, the junction of the neck and body,and a stopper adapted to be fitted into the mouth and neck of thebottle, the stopper of conventional form and composed of yieldable andflexible material, said stopper carrying pull means, and in connectionand for coaction therewith a member adapted to seal;the openings byspreading and distending the substance of the stopper 011 twooppositeisides and pressing and impacting it laterally and upwardly intothe side openings, with a registering cap member; said cap member beingdivided into two equal sections united about a transverse slot in itsapex, each section constituting an extension formed adaptably to rest onthe top of the neck around the mouth and grip a shouldered rim aroundand about the neck below the mouth and to have rotary movement thereon,said cap being also adapted by said rotary movement, in conjunction withvertical movement of prongs of unequal length, constituting a crossbaron the pull member carried by the stopper, to measure, limit andregister the vertical movement of said pull member, substantially asdescribed.

'7. In a bottle closure, a registering cap member divided into two equalsections united about a transverse slot in its apex, each sectionconstituting an extension formed adaptably to rest on the top of theneck around the mouth and grip a shouldered rim around and about theneck below the mouth and to have rotary movement thereon, said cap beingalso adapted by said rotary movement, in conjunction with verticalmovement of prongs of unequallength, constituting a crossbar on the pullmember carried by the stopper, to measure, limit and register thevertical movement of said pull member, substantially as described.

8. In a bottle closure, means carried by a stopper for extracting it andfor sealing elliptical opcnings'in two opposite sides of the bottle,extending from a point a little above, to apoint a little below, thejunction of neck and body; said means consisting of a stem having a ringat the top for manipulating it, an inverted triangular forma tion on itslower end, adapted, in its upward movement, to spread apart andoutwardly a round shouldered jaw placed on each side of it, upon theapplication of pull force to the stem, said-rounded shoulders, as aresult of the upward movement pressing outwardly and upwardly adjacentportions of thestopper substance enveloping them and imp acting saidportions into the openings, said jaws being in all respectscomplemental,each having exterior relatively sharp edged shoulders above the roundedshoulders, adapted to engage, indent and compact, against the interiorof the neck, the substance of the stopper, a trench extending upwardlyfrom end to end, to guide the vertical movement of said triangularformation, each having also corresponding transverse recesses in thetrenches for dividing the outward pressure on the jaws into degrees ofintensity and extent, at separate stages of upward movement of theinverted triangular formation, substantially as described.

Signed at city of New York in the county of New York and State of NewYork this 16th day of December A. 'D. 1916. v

THOMAS C. SPELLING.

Witnesses:

PAULINE MARGULIS,

JEAN GREENBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. r

